Crewe Alex opinion: Is it really a surprise that we’re so inconsistent?

Supporter ALEX IRANI
gives his View from the Stands

by Peter Morse

15:30, 25 Oct 2017

(Image: Nicola Cooper, www.nicspics.co.uk)

A disappointing result and performance on the back of an excellent one is something we have become accustomed to as Crewe fans.

Based on Saturday’s showing, it looks as though being ‘consistently inconsistent’ is not something we are going to shake off any time soon.

But when you dig deeper below the display, and look at the business model the club runs, is it a surprise we are unable to string together a few good results in a row?

As we are all aware and accept (some more than others), for the club to survive we have raise an average of about £750k a year by selling players, to cover the cost of running our Category Two academy.

The players that bring in the bigger transfer fees are usually the creative ones, so we have a duty to play these players in the hope they prove themselves.

So we find the likes of George Cooper and Callum Ainley playing week in, week out in the hope they find the level of consistency which will allow us to sell them for a handsome price.

But while those players struggle to find that consistency, we as a side will struggle and subsequently continue to be frustrated by our results.

I’m not singling out Cooper or Ainley, but it is an indictment of the situation we find ourselves in.

Since the launch of EPPP, we have tried to maintain a Category Two academy, but is it feasible while trying to have a successful first team?

If the current set-up is successful, the reward is two-fold. If the kids do well they put themselves in the shop window and our league position will probably be a lot healthier.

However, if it does not work, the damage is two-fold as well.

As a fan I want reassurances that all the relevant questions about the current business model have been asked internally, and that the board still feel this is the best way forward.

Chairman John Bowler very kindly lent me some time on Saturday, and reassured me this is the case. But as no real evidence is ever provided to supporters, it did not fill me with confidence.

I’m not advocating we scrap the academy. I just want reason to have confidence that, in the current changing landscape of football, the club is not simply being stubborn and naïve.

As supporters, all we can do is ask the questions. It would be great if the club could give us the answers.